Attorney Arnold Reed on Nov. 30, 2017 spoke with reporters regarding the family's concerns after U.S. Rep. John Conyers was hospitalized with dizziness and shortness of breath. Earlier, a former Conyers staff member accused him of sexual misconduct on the "Today" show.
Robert Allen/Detroit Free Press

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Paul Ryan and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday both called on embattled U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit, to resign in the face of sexual harassment accusations.

Ryan, R-Wis., and Pelosi, D-Calif., made the remarks at weekly news briefings with reporters. Conyers, 88, returned to Detroit on Tuesday night as reports swirled that he was being asked to resign from an office he has held since 1965 in light of accusations against him by at least four women.

In the afternoon, three other Michigan Democrats in Congress -- U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell of Dearborn, Dan Kildee of Flint Township and Sander Levin of Royal Oak -- did the same, with Kildee telling CNN, "No person ... should have to tolerate what has been alleged" and that such "abuse of power" cannot be tolerated.

Conyers' lawyer, Arnold Reed, said he would not be resigning immediately despite calls that he do so, however.

"First of all, it’s not up to Nancy Pelosi,” Reed said at a hastily called news conference outside the Conyers' home. "That decision will be completely up to the congressman.”

Conyers was hospitalized overnight in the Detroit area and it is not known what his condition is. But his lawyer told the Free Press on Wednesday that he had no intention of resigning "at this juncture."

On Thursday, Reed reiterated that stance, saying Conyers "is not going to be pressured by Nancy Pelosi or anyone else to step down."

"That will not be today. That will not be tomorrow," Reed added. "The congressman, again, is concerned about his health, just as his family is concerned about his health."Read more:

Conyers has steadfastly denied any accusations that he sexually harassed women members of his staff despite paying more than $27,000 in a settlement to one, Marion Brown, who broke a confidentiality agreement Thursday morning by speaking on NBC's "Today."

Pelosi, a longtime ally of Conyers, had earlier declined to call for his resignation but did so Thursday, calling the allegations against him, "serious, disappointing and very credible."

"It’s very sad," she said. "The brave women who came forward are owed justice. I pray for Congressman Conyers and his family and wish them well. However, Congressman Conyers should resign.

"(He) has served our Congress for more than five decades and shaped some of the most consequential legislation of the last half century," she continued. "However, zero tolerance means consequences for everyone, no matter how great the legacy."

Conyers is the longest-serving member of the House. He has faced increasing calls from House Democrats for him to step down as several former aides have come forward to accuse him of inappropriate sexual behavior.

Also on Thursday, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, the third ranking Democrati in the House and a member of the Congressional Black Caucus that Conyers helped found, told McClatchy that Conyers should step down.

At his briefing, Ryan said he he heard Brown's comments on "Today" and said, "No one should have to go through something like that, let alone here in Congress.

"Yes, I think he should resign. He should resign immediately. I’ve just been briefed on the torrent of allegations, and I think he should," the speaker said.